Satellite CCTV to scrutinize penguins’ breeding habits

Three high-tech satellite-connected cameras have been
installed near the South Pole in a unique attempt to monitor penguin
populations battling climate change.

The camera system, designed by Cambridge Consultants, has
previously been deployed to study wild-life in Kenya and will now be put
to test in harsh Antarctic conditions.

“We have installed the
system in January on a small island near the South Pole,” said Jonathan
Pallant, a senior engineer at Cambridge Consultants. “It consists of
three cameras communicating wirelessly with a hub unit, using a
custom-developed protocol.”

The motion activated cameras transmit
images in real time via the Iridium satellite constellation to UK-based
zoologists, enabling them to see what the animals are doing even if they
are thousands of miles away. The cameras use infra-red LED flash
lighting which allows them to capture images night and day.

Satellite-based penguin monitoring enables researchers to uncover how the species reacts to the climate change [Credit: Alasdair]

Most
of the technology used is identical with that employed last year to
monitor rhinos in Kenya, including a Raspberry Pi computer at the centre
of the system. However, Antarctica places extra demand on battery
design and durability.

“We considered a whole range of
environments when designing the system, starting with African deserts
and savannahs, to extremely moist and cold environments,” Pallant said.
“Of course the system needs to be watertight to protect the electronics.
However, the biggest challenge is the battery. We used a car battery as
it performs the best in extremely cold conditions.”

As the
Antarctic winter is approaching the reliability of the battery system
would be critical as the cameras’ solar panels won’t generate any
electricity.

So far, zoologists studying penguins have had to
rely on data gathered during their challenging missions to Antarctica.
The penguin-focused CCTV will thus help keep an eye on the animals all
year round, providing better understanding of how these animals cope
with the progressing climate change.

The unobtrusive cameras rely on car batteries to survive Antarctic winter and a Raspberry Pi computer to communicate with

“The unique thing about this
system is the fact that we can change the configuration of the system
remotely using the Iridium satellites,” said Marion Campbell, practice
director at Cambridge Consultants. “We don’t need to be there
physically, in order to, for example, adjust the timing delay between
the trigger and the moment when the actual picture is taken.”

The
trial, part of the Penguin Lifeline project, is a cooperation between
Cambridge Consultants, Oxford University and the Zoological Society of
London. As the results have been promising, the team plans to deploy
additional cameras in selected areas across Antarctica in the coming
months, ahead of the penguin breeding season.